Injury Ravaged Wales Send The Chariot Packing…
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Wales overcame a 10-point deficit and endless injuries to pull off a sensational win against England in an astonishing World Cup contest.
Gareth Davies’s late try from Dan Biggar’s brilliant cross-field kick and 23 points from the fly-half’s unblemished boot sealed victory.
This is a devastating loss for England, for whom Owen Farrell kicked 20 points.
Jonny May scored a first-half try for the hosts, who turned down a tricky late shot at goal and paid the price.
When England led 22-12 with half an hour to play they looked to be in control, but the concession of a series of penalties, many at the breakdown, kept Wales in the game, and in a blistering finale it was the men in red found the resolve to come through.
Given the occasion, their injuries and the importance of the occasion, this may be Wales’ greatest ever win on foreign soil.
England will now have to beat Australia next Saturday to keep their own World Cup campaign alive.
The late call – was it right?
England could have snatched a draw at the death, but captain Chris Robshaw opted to kick to the corner rather than take the difficult pot at the posts, and when Wales pushed the subsequent maul into touch the chance had gone.
It was a decision that may be endlessly debated but in truth England lost the game through their own indiscipline.
Stuart Lancaster’s controversial team selection was arguably justified by an assured performance from Farrell, who was picked at fly-half ahead of George Ford.
But his reputation as a coach now hangs on the result of the Wallabies showdown in a week’s time, the doomsday scenario of England becoming the first World Cup hosts to fail to make it out of the group stages now a real possibility.
Source: BBC